2010 Kia Forte

Kia hopes its Spectra replacement will be its compact-sedan forte.

The Kia Spectra, last redesigned for 2004, is the oldest model in Kia’s range. In tacit acknowledgement of the Spectra name’s lack of cachet, its replacement is called Forte. Debuting at the 2009 Chicago auto show, the 2010 Kia Forte is dressed in sheetmetal that looks strikingly similar to that of the current Honda Civic.

The Forte is offered in three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX, and the latter sports a newly offered 2.4-liter inline-four with 173 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. Buyers cross-shopping the Kia should take note that the 2.4 offers more horsepower than the 2010 Mazda 3 s and Toyota Corolla XRS. The SX comes with 17-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and larger front brakes than lesser Fortes. LX and EX models receive a 2.0-liter four with 156 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque, up 18 hp and 8 lb-ft from the outgoing Spectra. Opting for the LX or EX yields customers their choice of a five-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic transmission, while the SX offers a standard six-speed manual or an optional five-speed auto. A Fuel-Economy Package will also be offered on the 2.0-liter that includes the five-speed slushbox and low-rolling-resistance tires with “aero enhancements,” which Kia says will result in 36 mpg on the highway.

Kia claims the Forte is built on an all-new platform. Overall, it expands over the Spectra in almost every dimension except interior space, oddly enough. The wheelbase grows 1.5 inches, overall length is up by as much as 1.1 inches, and the width fattens 1.6 inches, while height shrinks a touch. Passenger volume is down 0.2 cu ft, but trunk space opens up to 14.7 cu ft, up 2.5 over the Spectra. Part of that increase likely is due to the Forte’s move from a multilink setup to a torsion-beam suspension design in the rear—the torsion-beam arrangement is generally cheaper to produce than an independent arrangement but offers less handling precision on bumpy roads, all else being equal.

Standard technology features worth noting are an auxiliary audio input jack, a USB port for an iPod or other MP3 device, and Bluetooth connectivity—these often cost over a thousand dollars as options on other cars. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability and traction control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system accompany all Fortes. This is a high level of standard equipment for this class.

Although the styling appears to be a blatant rip-off of the current Civic, we think it looks well-executed. The front end is clean and the 17-inch wheels shown in early press images appear to be cribbed from a BMW 328i from a couple years back—who can argue with that? Expect to see a coupe version spawn as early as the New York show in April, with pricing expected to be in the ballpark of the Spectra’s when it goes on sale in early summer.

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